Camping is awesome. If you get a good camping experience, you get close to your friends and a lot closer to nature. Few things clear stress and let you forget the outside world as better. For some distance, it might even be better than the sunniest of beaches. But it’s also a little scary. That sense of being lost and alone is part of the thrill of it to a lot of people. But when it gets seriously scary because you have underestimated some of the essentials, it’s no longer fun. It’s a disaster. Here’s how you avoid that.

You’re going out there to experience something different and to get closer to nature. However, that doesn’t mean you have to be completely exposed to it. Finding out what the weather is like in advance is crucial to camping. It’s going to ensure that you bring the fitting clothes, that you equip yourself with the right tent, and that you prepare the campsite accordingly. For instance, one of the most common weather-related mistakes is to choose a camping spot that’s downhill when you’re to expect some rain. Do that and you’ll find yourself waking up in a partially flooded tent. Of course, while weather forecasts can help you prepare specifically, you should anticipate all kinds of weather. They are liable to be wrong from time to time, after all.

If you really want to enjoy your camping holiday then you don’t want to have to go to bed as soon as the sun goes down. But if you’re not prepared for just how dark it can get out there at night, that’s exactly what will be happening. The dark out there can get oppressive, especially if you’re in the forest. Besides general environment lighting, find the best tactical led flashlight you can get as well. You need task lighting that can be easily moved, especially if you plan on leaving the camp anywhere near sundown. Reflective clothing, especially blaze orange, is a good idea, too. It makes you a lot more visible to any hunters that might be in the area.

You can’t forget that you’re sharing a habitat with a genuinely wild ecosystem as well. It pays to be aware of any wildlife in the area, particularly those that are prone to be aggressive, and to take steps to protect yourself. For instance, don’t leave food or any traces of food hanging out. As soon as you eat, clean all your dishes. It’s a good idea to eat things that aren’t too pungent and likely to attract wildlife. But animals aren’t the only things to be concerned about. Being unable to identify poison oak, poison mushrooms and other dangerous flora can just as easily cause a trip to the hospital. With the best plant and fungi identifying app on hand, you can make sure you’re aware of any potential risks you could be walking across. Always take the time to check before you decide to try that mushroom or walk through those leaves.

Once you get past the potential horror stories, camping becomes a lot more thrilling, a lot more peaceful, and a lot more fun all at once. So, don’t go out unprepared.